Report: Police leaked information

BELOIT TOWNSHIP  In the process of investigating an information leak, Rock County Sheriff's Office investigators uncovered two other leaks from the Town of Beloit Police Department.

Several employees, town officials and residents were interviewed while sheriff's deputies investigated three department employees, according to documents the Gazette obtained through the Wisconsin Open Records Law.

The investigation resulted in the following:

-- Officer Mike Bogdonas was not reprimanded. According to documents the town released Tuesday morning, a resident accused Bogdonas of calling him in January and sharing information about an investigation into a crime in the town.

Bogdonas intended the information to be leaked to the press to damage the reputations of two town officials, according to statements made during the investigation.

Bogdonas denied calling the resident for any reason other than two unrelated matters. He has no knowledge of anyone else making what could have been a damaging phone call.

Rock County District Attorney David O'Leary in May closed the case against Bogdonas and declined to file charges.

-- Sgt. Willie Abegglen was suspended for three days without pay, Administrator Bob Museus said. Abegglen already has served the suspension, Museus said.

Abegglen, who at the time was deputy chief, was accused of tipping off Bogdonas and three other officers in February about the sheriff's office's investigation.

Abegglen told deputies he learned about the investigation from a waitress who works at a restaurant in Beloit Township, according to investigative documents.

Abegglen's rank was changed to sergeant during an unrelated restructuring of the department.

-- Chief John Wilson on June 30 received a letter of reprimand from Administrator Bob Museus, according to records the town released July 24.

Wilson was accused of telling the waitress about the investigation into Bogdonas' alleged phone call.

Town officials blackened all names other than those of police department employees before releasing the document to the Gazette.